Identification of Determinants of Choice of Preferences in Attapadi Tribal Farmers for Alternative Livestock Enterprises

Abstract

The present study was conducted purposively during November 2018 to March 2019 in Attappadi block of Palakkad district in Kerala as this is one among the largest tribal settlements of Kerala with considerable livestock population. Expost facto research design was adopted for the study. The sample was comprised of 120 tribal livestock farmers as respondents (n=120). The respondents belonged to three different tribal communities viz., Irulas (92.5 %), Mudugas (5.83 %) and Kurumbas (1.67 %).The data showed that majority of the respondents had low herd size unit (<1 unit) of livestock (88.33 %) followed by medium herd unit size (7.50 %) and large (4.17 %) respectively. Data pertaining to Knowledge level revealed that majority of the respondents (56.67 %) had low level of knowledge followed by medium level of knowledge (41.67 %) and only a few of the respondents (1.66 %) had high level of knowledge regarding scientific management including breeding, feeding and health care practices of animal husbandry. The data found that majority of the farmers (93.33 %) had choice of preferences for alternative livestock enterprises. The relationship analysis of socio-economic attributes as determinants with choice of preferences for alternative livestock enterprises revealed that the independent variable, gross annual income of the tribal farmers was found to have positive and significant correlation at 1 per cent level of significance (r=0.252). Economic motivation of farmers had positive and significant (0.181) relationship while experience of the tribal farmers in farming had negative and significant relationship (r= -0.228) at 5 per cent level of significance.